Hike Ventures

Hike Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in startups leveraging applied AI to solve well-defined challenges in ways that traditional software has not been able to accomplish. With advancements in AI algorithms, the increase in data volume, and the acceleration of GPU performance, it has become possible to realize AI-driven services that solve problems more cost-effectively and quickly than traditional methods. As a result, numerous innovative services are emerging. Through their international offices in San Francisco and Tokyo, they actively invest across the U.S., Canada, and Japan. Hike Ventures seeks to transform conventional work styles and norms by investing in startups that create businesses to enrich people’s lives, supporting them as an integral part of their team. Their investment philosophy emphasizes the synergy between algorithm and human insight, encapsulated in their motto: "Algorithm + Human > Algorithm or Human." This approach reflects their belief in combining data-driven insights with human intellect to drive transformative solutions. The firm's portfolio includes companies such as Matic, which was acquired by Atlassian, and Matic Robots, acquired by Paper. The team comprises experienced professionals like Mikihiro Yasuda, General Partner in San Francisco, and Takahiro Shoji, General Partner in Tokyo, both of whom bring extensive backgrounds in technology and venture capital to the firm.